In all the days of her life, Troy native TaLesa J. Harris couldn’t believe what was happening to her. She was sitting between two stars of the popular television soap opera, “Days of Our Lives,” and being quizzed by Steve Harvey of television talk and game show fame.

The long-running soap opera is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week and Harris is now a part of the celebrity of the event. As a 20-year fan of “Days of Our Lives,” Harris responded to the facebook request to enter the Steve Harvey Show’s biggest “Days” fan contest.

She has been watching “Days” since she was about five years old and had converted others who are also die-hard fans.

“That’s what I said in my entry in the contest,” Harris said. “And I told how much I enjoyed the show and that I drove to Atlanta in 2010 for that anniversary celebration and I met Rafe — Galen Gering — and interviewed him. I had to be a big fan to drive three hours one way to get that opportunity.”

What Harris said in her “fan letter” surely struck a cord with Harvey and/or the producers of his talk show.

“I was flown to Chicago for The Steve Harvey Show and I thought I would just be in the audience,” Harris said. “When I got there, I had my own green room. I had my hair and makeup done and they dressed me. I was on the show with two of my favorite “Days’ cast members, Deidre Hall and Galen Gering, and I was surprised that he remembered me from Atlanta.”

The reason Harris was treated so royally was that she was the winner of the “Days of Our Lives” Biggest Fan Contest.

“I was so excited to be the winner and to be on the show with Steve Harvey, Deidre Hall and Galen Gering,” Harris said. “Steve Harvey is funny and he is also emotional in a good way. He talked with the audience and shared an inspirational message with them. Deidre Hall and Galen Gering were both laid-back and seemed to be caring people. Their personalities were much like the characters they play on ‘Days of Our Lives.’”

And, that’s all Harris can say about her appearance on the Steve Harvey Show until after it airs at 2 p.m. today locally on Troy Cable Channel 29 also the game show channel. That’s all she can say except she was in for an even bigger surprise.

Harris is a 2007 graduate of Charles Henderson High School and a 2013 graduate of Troy University.

She continues to pursue an acting career. She was recently cast in the movie, “White Water” and has been cast in several of Tyler Perry’s shows. She will appear in Emmbre Perry’s “Two is Better Than One” stage show Jan. 10 at the Davis Theater in Montgomery.